Food news antipasto

Trader Joe’s just announced that it will begin selling its coveted limited-edition lavender and pink canvas totes on Monday, March 23. Nakia Rohde, Trader Joe’s public relations manager, provided the scoop to the Reno Gazette Journal on Friday. These tote bags are popular because they are part of a larger pastel colored tote trend. Some people like to use the totes in place of traditional Easter baskets. If you want one, you should hurry in to the nearest store, because they won’t last long. Expect to wait in line and be limited to how many you can purchase, if you are lucky enough snag one at all.

Cottage cheese is really having a moment, thanks (of course) to TikTok. While the humble ingredient started popping up in late 2024, it’s been going gangbusters in recent months and influencers are evangelizing the dairy product’s purported health benefits. But does it live up to the hype? That’s the question Hannah Twiggs put to registered nutritionist Rob Hobson, to break down whether the claims are backed up by science.

Acid whey is a byproduct of Greek yogurt making, and finding a use for the gigantic quantities that are produced every year is challenging. It can’t just be dumped onto the ground, but the same properties that make it difficult to dispose of can be useful in other applications, particularly in making sourdough bread. Researchers at Western University in London, Canada, led by Latifeh Ahmadi, have confirmed that the lactic acid bacteria found in the whey are similar to those found in sourdough starter. Using the whey in the bread not only contributes to the tangy flavor, the acid limits the growth of mold, giving the bread a longer shelf life. It’s a win-win situation.

Cherry Bombe magazine recently interviewed Ruthie Rodgers, who just released Table 4 at The River Cafe: Conversations about Food and Life. The book is a collection of essays based on Rodgers’ interviews with the actors, singers, politicians, athletes, and artists who have appeared on the podcast – celebrities such as David Beckham, Martha Stewart, and Mel Brooks. On Cherry Bombe’s podcast, Rodgers discussed talk comfort food, her new book, and “kale pesto”.

IACP recently opened nominations for its coveted awards, which recognize the best in cookbooks, food writing, and food photography & styling. While the deadline to enter the Cookbook Awards is April 15, 2026, if you want to enter without paying, the deadline is April 1. (No foolin’.) The deadline for The Food Writing, Food Photography & Styling submissions is May 1, 2026.